Sara Smith
Biography
Sara Smith is a marketing professional with more than fourteen years of experience working with and analyzing data. Sara has worked in both the newspaper and financial industries and currently works in higher education. She currently serves as Digital Strategist and Technologist, and most recently was Coordinator, Electronic Communications and Web Content Services for University Relations at Kent State University. Sara coordinates overall web content strategies, including the creation, design, content management and policy support for Kent State University's websites. Key tasks include: reporting, data analysis, project assistance, client support, usability testing, form and content management, in addition to university crisis communications. Sara is also a member of the Kent State Accessibility Committee.
Sara Smith is a marketing professional with 18+ years of experience working with and analyzing data. A graduate of Kent State University (2005 and 2020). Sara has worked in the newspaper and financial industries and in higher education. Most recently, for the past nine years (2014-2023), Sara worked for University Communications and Marketing - first as Electronic Communications Coordinator and then as a Digital Strategist and Technologist, at Kent State University.
As of Feb. 1, 2023, in addition to teaching for MDJ, Sara is now a Section 508 Accessibility Specialist with Oddball, Inc. In this role Sara helps to improve, analyze and ensure a well-rounded and compliant application, based on the requirements of Section 508 compliance for a federal, facing application and product. The Section 508 Standards ensure access for people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. Additionally, Sara is utilizing her master's degree in user experience through the gathering, conducting and reporting on user research.
Sara's experience at Kent State includes leveraging research and tools to guide university-wide design, development, modification and creation of complex user-centered designs for websites and other multimedia applications and digital platforms, from concept to in-market implementation, to maximize brand value, customer engagement and conversion. In addition to: reporting, data analysis, project assistance, client support, usability testing, form and content management, in addition to university crisis communications. Sara was also a member of the Kent State Accessibility Committee from 2014-2023.
Bachelor's Degree
- 2005 Journalism (Information Design)
- Kent State University
Master's Degree
- 2020 User Experience Design
- Kent State University
Education
B.S. in Journalism, Kent State University